Still stunned at what they had just witnessed it took several moments before the men’s training kicked in. For the first time all day they failed to reply in unison when they uttered several variations of, “Understood, sir.”
“Good, because I guarantee that you will be sorry for the rest of your life if I do.”
Athos walked over to Hagan, kneeled, and gently removed Hagan’s hands from his nose. The nose itself was intact but crooked. The blood came from a large cut between Hagan’s brown eyes.
“This is going to hurt a bit,” Pausing for a moment Athos then asked, “Are you ready?”
Hagan looked into Athos’ eyes and said, “Aye.”
With a loud crack, Athos set his nose back into place. Hagan turned white and clenched both of his fists. He quivered as adrenaline flooded his body from the sudden pain, but managed to keep his mouth clamped shut. After many agonizing seconds had passed, he looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. Without a word, he walked over to his line and looked across at Vadim who smiled back at him innocently.
“Are you ready to continue, Hagan?” Athos asked. Hagan nodded, “Then begin!”
This time both men charged at each other. With a loud smashing sound, their two shields smacked together. Vadim, being much stronger than Hagan, began pushing him back toward his starting line. Hagan looked up at Vadim’s grinning face looking down at him over the two shields. His brow was furrowed with the effort he was putting forth to push Hagan back. Suddenly Hagan fell backward. Vadim, suddenly finding no resistance, fell forward. Hagan slipped to the side and struck Vadim in the back as he landed on the ground chest first.
“Point Hagan!” Athos yelled.
Vadim pushed himself up off the ground. His face turned a dark shade of red as he grabbed his shield off the ground and stalked back to his line. Turning around to face Hagan he said, “Old man, you’re going to wish you hadn’t done that.”
Hagan smiled back at Vadim in response but said nothing. Unblinking, the two men stared at each other until Athos voice pierced the silence, “Begin.”
This time both men raised their shield up in a defensive position and warily circled each other. Seeing an opening, Vadim brought his ax over his head and swung it downwards toward Hagan’s head with all his might. Hagan jumped back as the ax made a swooshing sound as it zipped by his chest narrowly missing. Hagan lunged, putting his shoulder into Vadim’s midsection. The sudden unexpected move caused Vadim to lose his balance and he fell backwards. He grabbed Hagan with his arms causing the smaller man to lose his balance.
The two men clutched in an embrace, fell towards the ground. As Vadim’s back struck the ground, he lost his grip on his ax which landed on Hagan’s back. Vadim let out a startled yelp as a sharp pain dug into his back. Hagan had dropped his shield but held onto his ax. Vadim had landed on the wooden ax. The men watching all laughed. Athos tried not to laugh. He held his hand over his mouth hoping no one would notice but he wasn’t fooling anyone.
Vadim looked up with a look of pure hatred at Athos, “That’s not a point he didn’t strike me with the ax.”
Athos responded, “True he did not hit you with the ax, but the ax nonetheless touched you. There is no fair or unfair in war, just victory. The point goes to Hagan. Hagan leads two to one.”
Vadim stalked back to his starting line. Hagan glanced at the sky once more and then ambled slowly over to his line, his shoulders slumping with obvious fatigue. When Hagan looked up at Vadim, he was startled by the hate filled gaze. Trying to ease the mood Hagan said, “No worries big guy I’m just getting lucky.”
Athos paused for a few moments giving Vadim a chance to respond to Hagan, but he remained silent, “Are you ready?” Both men nodded in response, “Then begin!”
Vadim took two steps and leaped into the air. At the same time that he jumped, he brought his ax over his head in a downward swing. The arc of his jump and the sweep of his ax were timed to strike Hagan just as he started descending toward him. Hagan completely startled by the move froze and just stared as Vadim drew near. A moment before the ax struck his forehead he hooked it with his own and yanked. Vadim lost his grip on his ax as Hagan flicked it into the crowd.
The onlookers not expecting this move at all stood speechless as Vadim’s ax sailed right into the head of an observer. The wooden ax struck the man with a dull thump, and he dropped straight to the ground in a heap. Back in the fighting square Vadim, minus his ax, crashed into Hagan and knocked him over.
Vadim, whether intentionally or unintentionally no one could tell, nose struck Hagan’s damaged nose. Hagan’s vision was suddenly filled with white stars, and he released his grip on his ax as his back crashed into the ground. The air fled from Hagan’s lungs, and he gasped for more.
Vadim, seeing his opportunity, grabbed Hagan’s ax and tapped him on the arm, “Point Vadim.” Athos said. Several men were leaning over the poor unfortunate that took Vadim’s ax to his forehead, “Is he going to be alright?”
Hadad looked up and nodded, “Yes, he’s still breathing. I think we can wake him up with a bucket of water.”
“Good, see to it,” Athos ordered.
“Yes, sir!” Hadad replied.
Vadim retrieved his ax and walked back to his line. Hagan picked his ax up off the ground and slowly walked back to his line. His shoulders were slumped and his movement unsteady. Despite this, he turned and said to Vadim, “Nice recovery.”
Vadim stared at Hagan for several moments with an incredulous look on his face. Finally, his face twisted into a smile, and he said, “Thanks, old man.”
Athos noticing Hagan’s fatigue said, “The worse thing about the damned is that they keep coming. Whether it be daylight, night time, or whatever they just keep coming.” He points at Hagan, “Hagan here is completely exhausted.” Hagan looks up at Athos and their eyes lock, “But you must ignore your fatigue. Learn to bury it, fight through it, but above all don’t let it cause you to make mistakes. Those kinds of mistakes lead to the loss of the lives of your brothers or your own. Begin!”
The two men move slowly toward each other. When they reached melee range they both pause and looked at the other in expectation. Neither of them showed an opening to exploit, so they began circling each other slowly. After thirty seconds of this Vadim breaks the stalemate by shoving his shield into Hagan’s, using his superior strength to push it aside, and twisting Hagan around and exposing his back.
As soon as the opening presented itself, Vadim swung his ax at Hagan’s exposed right side. Hagan dropped his shield and threw himself to the left in a desperate attempt to avoid being struck. The ploy worked. Vadim’s ax narrowly missed the top of his head.
Vadim then stepped forward and brought his ax in a downward arc toward Hagan. As Vadim was taking the step Hagan, now sitting on the ground, grabbed his shield from down by his feet and blocked the blow. Vadim immediately followed with another strike as Hagan brought his legs under him and tried to rise to one knee.
Hagan was once again able to bring his shield up and block the blow. Vadim then kicked Hagan’s shield as hard as he could. This subsequent blow sent pain shooting up Hagan’s left arm, and he cried out in pain.
Grinning, Vadim hooked the top of Hagan’s shield with his ax and yanked hard. Hagan, his arm throbbing in pain, let go of the shield. The large man was able to fling the shield behind him with his ax. Hagan, seeing an opening, swung his ax at Vadim, as the other man was bringing his ax back into a striking position. Vadim blocked the blow with his shield and then swung his ax at Hagan’s left side. As Hagan stood the ax struck him in the left arm and he cried out in pain.
Athos yelled, “Point Vadim! You advance to meet Otis in the finals today.”
Athos looked over at Hagan. He was clutching his left arm, and his face was contorted in an expression of pain. Athos walked over to him and placed a hand on his right shoulder, “You were amazing today. The odds were against you in every way, but you kept coming up with ideas to stay in the fight
. We need this kind of innovation if we are to be successful against the damned.” Athos then smiled and placed a wine ration chit into Hagan’s hand, “You’ve more than earned this today.”
Otis and Vadim fought as you would expect two young brutes to fight. They matched strength with strength and speed with speed. The two men nearly evenly matched, fought like every point was their last. Finally, after many long rounds of the two combatants attempting to outlast each other, Otis emerged the victor. Both men were covered in sweat from their efforts as the light from the setting sun caught the beads of perspiration on their forehead.
Athos drew the men up in formation as the sun touched the horizon, “I told you today that I would appoint a Dekanos to replace Kentarches Damon. Though each Kentarchia has ten Dekanoses, one stands above the rest. The First Dekanos oversees the others and takes care of many of the details that the Kentarches doesn’t have the time to focus on. In addition to leading the first Kontoubernion, the First Dekanos serves as the Kentarches’ right-hand man. The First Dekanos Offers valuable advice and support to the Kentarches. Tourmarches Constan was my First Dekanos as I learned to be an Ironman. At times an older brother, friend, and even father. He represented us to Kentarches Nikas, God rest his soul, and made sure that we were ready to obey Nikas’ orders. In turn Constan, as one of the men under Nikas, kept his finger on the pulse of the 2nd Kentarchia. He served as a moderating voice that kept Nikas from doing things that would have caused our morale to suffer. While the Kentarches is the head of a Kentarchia and the men represent the body, the First Dekanos is the neck. If used wisely the neck can be crucial in helping the Kentarches to see what he might otherwise miss.”
Athos paused for a moment overcome with emotion. He tried to fight it down so the men couldn’t see his weakness but it manifested itself. His lip quivered with the grief for the faintest moment and then it was gone, “When I first met your new First Dekanos I saw a lazy bastard that was obviously far too fond of wine; however over the last few days he proved to be something else, a man with an inner soul of iron. Despite the ravages of years, too much wine, and soft living he pushed himself to be better. This culminated in an innovative and nearly successful semi-final fight in today’s matches. These are precisely the kind of qualities that a First Dekanos needs to be successful. Hagan, you are the 2nd Kentarchia’s new First Dekanos!”
Exhausted, Athos headed back to his room. He opened the door, lit his lamp, stripped off his sweaty clothing, and laid down on the bed. He thought about what he should do next, sleep? Though tired his mind was racing, so no. He closed his eyes and sought out the Nikas personality. He was met with the silence that he had been experiencing all day in that quarter. Finally, his mind settled on one thought, Athea.
If I’m in control now, what could I do to win her back? Tell her the truth? Athos thought to himself as he pondered the challenge, No, she’ll think I’m crazy and reject me. Am I crazy? He thought for several moments trying to answer the question, Well let’s see I have a person in my mind that can take over whenever they want to. He sat bolt upright and exclaimed out loud, “I am crazy!”
“No, you’re not crazy.” The Nikas personality answered.
“I wished you’d never entered my mind! It’s your fault that Athea is lost.”
“Aye, it’s my fault Athea is lost. It’s also my fault that you have been the best Kentarchia commander Constan has.” The Nikas personality said inside the confines of Athos’ mind.
“Losing Athea is not worth being a good Kentarches.”
“Are you daft, boy? Bewitched?” The Nikas personality paused waiting for Athos to respond. Just as Athos’ mind was forming the response, he then added, “No don’t bother to answer the second question. If we consulted with a priest, he’d probably try to cast me out as a demon.”
Athos asked, “Would it work?”
“Of course not. I’m not a demon or a minion of Satan.”
“Then what are you exactly? You’re inside my mind. I have no control over you, and you can take over whenever you feel like it. You sure seem like some form of demon to me.”
“I don’t know why I am in your addled mind, Athos. What I do know is that you need me. At least for now. You still have plenty of growing to do before you will be ready to lead your men into battle.”
Athos asks, “Can you make me a promise?”
The Nikas personality sighed in his mind, nodded, and said, “Very well. If the request is reasonable. It is after all your mind and body.”
“Do what you allowed today. Don’t take over my mind tonight.”
“You’re going to try and win Athea back aren’t you?”
“What of it?”
An image of Nikas smiling popped into Athos’ head, “I doubt you will be able to overcome the damage I wrought several nights ago.” Athos heard a chuckle, and then the Nikas personality continued, “It should be fun to watch you fail. If I let you have total control tonight will you promise me something in return?”
Athos, desperate for the opportunity to win back Athea’s heart, responds with an eager voice, “Absolutely!”
“After she rejects you, be done with her. Your men deserve your entire focus.”
Athos nodded, “If you allow me to keep control tonight while I am trying to win Athea back I will do as you say. I will focus on my men if she rejects me again.”
“Excellent. Then may I suggest a fresh uniform?”
Athos changes quickly and heads to the Thirsty Palm. He walks past the armory which is bustling with activity despite the fact it was nightfall. Turning onto Straight Street, he walked to the forum and moved through it to reach the Thirsty Palm. As he opens, the door light spilled out onto the dark street, and his nose is filled with the mouth-watering scents of chicken and lamb.
Stepping inside the tavern, Athos shuts the door behind him and allows his eyes to adjust to the light. Athea, who was at a table, looked up. Their eyes locked and she frowned slightly. The absence of her customary newcomer greeting created a void in the air between them. After a long pause, she says, “You are no longer welcome here.”
“Athea, I came to apologize. Let me have a table.”
The two stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Athos’ eyes are softly beseeching Athea’s forgiveness. In sharp contrast her eyes are filled with hatred.
Seeing the standoff, Jacob, the owner of the Thirsty Palm, and the cook emerged from the kitchen and asked, “Is there a problem, Athea?”
Athea nods and responds, “Yes, this is Athos, the man that caused the scene the other night.” Athea turns her back to Athos and resumes her conversation with the couple at the table she was waiting on.
Jacob walks from the kitchen over to Athos and says, “You owe me for a bottle of wine you stole from one of my customers. Then you can leave.”
Athos placed his hands on his hips, “But I paid the man for the wine.”
Jacob snorted, “You flipped him a nummi for a bottle of Cappadocian. I’d hardly call that paying for it. The man was so upset with having a sword drawn on him in my tavern that he refused to give me the nummi!”
Jacob expectantly holds his arm out with the palm upward. Athos glances down at his outstretched hand, “Yes I do. I deeply regret my behavior from the other night and wish to make amends.”
Jacob smiled, several of his teeth were missing, “Good, then we understand each other. You can pay me and leave.”
“I will indeed pay you for the wine. I would like a table tonight, and I promise on my word as a Kentarches that I will behave honorably this evening.” Athos finished up by dropping a gold nomisma into Jacob’s outstretched hand.
Jacob looked down at the gold coin in his hand and smiled. It was worth several times the cost of a bottle of wine. The coin quickly disappears, “Please come this way, I’ll seat you at my best table.”
The two men’s weight caused the floor to creak as they walked across the room. Jacob indicated a table that was slightly less wo
rn and haggard looking than the rest of the tables in the ancient tavern, “Please have a seat and Athea will be right with you.”
Jacob turned and walked over to Athea who was now on her way to the kitchen. He stopped her just in front of the doorway. They have a conversation with each other. Athea shook her head no. Jacob gestured as he tried to make his point apparently upset but they both kept their voices too low for Athos to hear. Finally, she nodded in agreement, looked over at Athos with daggers in her eyes, and disappeared into the kitchen.
She looks pissed. I hope I can convince her how sorry I am. Athos was forced to wait far longer than he should have. Athea emerged from the kitchen and carried a large steaming plate over to a man on the other side of the room. She set the plate down in front of him. Then she conversed briefly with the man. Finishing, she once again glared at Athos ensuring that he was aware of her displeasure, and walked over to him. As she neared she softened her face into a blank look.
She stopped at the table, Athos noticed at more than double her usual distance from him and said, “I don’t know what you said to Jacob. I’m furious you even have the nerve to come back here after what you did the other night.”
“Please, Athea let me-”
Athea interrupted, “Save it for someone who cares. What do you want to drink?”
Athos sighed deeply with a pained look on his face, “I’ll take a bottle of the Cappadocian. What’s good tonight?”
“The usual,” Athea replied sharply her voice betraying the emotion that was boiling just beneath the surface.
“Fine, give me some lamb.” replied Athos.
Without another word Athea turned and headed for the kitchen.
Seems like I have an uphill battle in front of me. Athos glanced absently around the room. Everyone was sneaking glances at him. He pretended not to notice and picked a piece of dirt from out under one of his fingernails.
Athea quickly returned with a bottle of the Cappadocian and a goblet. Athos glanced down at the cup. It looked like she dug the oldest most beaten up goblet the centuries-old tavern had and then kicked it around on the ground for several minutes.
Byzantium Infected Box Set Page 41
